PSC wants comments on CenturyLink service

In an unusual move, the Montana Public Service Commission is asking CenturyLink customers to come forward with their complaints about their landline telephone service.

The PSC, in a press release issued Thursday, said an informal investigation discovered violations of PSC rules by CenturyLink, which provides service to much of Montana, including Havre.

Complaints concentrated on the number of service outages and the time it takes for repairs to be made.

The PSC said it had initiated a contested case proceeding, which enables the investigation to continue.

PSC staff will review “CenturyLink’s service quality problems and outages, especially those experienced by rural customers without access to other providers of telephone service,” the release read.

CenturyLink will prepare a report outlining what it plans to do to improve its service, the PSC said. The PSC will review its report and will decide whether to approve CenturyLink’s request that the PSC waive its rule regarding the time required to resolve customers’ out-of-service reports.

CenturyLink customers who want to comment on their CenturyLink telephone service should:

• Mail or deliver written comments to the PSC at 1701 Prospect Ave., PO Box 202601, Helena, MT 59620-2601

• Submit comments electronically on the PSC’s website at http://psc.mt.gov (“Comment on Proceedings”), and reference Docket D2014.11.91.

A spokeswoman for CenturyLink’s Billings office said Thursday the company would be issuing a statement Thursday night, but none was forthcoming.

PSC spokesmen did not return calls seeking elaboration.

An attorney from the Montana Consumer Counsel, which represents the public, was out of town Thursday and not available to comment.